Old Québec City is the original old town historic neighborhood in Québec, Canada, that was first settled in 1608. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the only city in North America north of Mexico that still has a city wall. Visiting Old Québec City allows travelers to step back in time and visit an early North American settlement.
Québec City
In 1608, Samuel de Champlain, the French explorer, founded Québec City at the confluence of the Saint Charles and Saint Lawrence Rivers. This city became the capital of New France in the Americas and served as the headquarters for all French hostilities against the British. Today, it is the capital of the province of Québec.
Old Québec
The beginnings of Old Québec as a fortified colony are evident today. The historic district is made up of Upper Town located on top of Cap Diamant (Cape Diamond; the promontory landform), and Lower Town down by the water. You can get from one to the other via the stairs, or the popular Funiculaire.
Upper Town
Upper Town has been the administrative center of Québec City since the beginning. Here you will find the very well-preserved fortified five-pointed Citadel, ramparts, bastions, defensive walls, and Dauphine Redoubt (the artillery park). Just southwest of the Citadel are the Plains of Abraham; the site of a battle between the British and the French from 1759 which today serves as a wide open park for the city.
Lower Town
Lower Town is where the earliest settlers of Québec City set up their homes. Here you will find Place-Royale (the neighborhood where Samuel de Champlain lived) and the old city port (Vieux-Port de Québec). The Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church is located here. This church was built in 1688 and is the oldest stone church in all of North America. At the Petit-Champlain district right along the river, you can see some of the earliest houses from Québec City’s start as a colony.
Where is it Located?
Old Québec City is located in the northeastern portion of Québec City, between Rue d’Auteuil and the waterfront where the Saint Charles River meets the Saint Lawrence River. If you have any doubt about its location, just look for the old city walls.